Best Refrigerator Water Filter in 2018

Nobody like drinking a glass of lukewarm water, which is just one of the reasons for having a refrigerator water filter.

Another is to ensure that your drinking water is safe, of course. Tap water – whether municipal or from a private well – is full of contaminants that aren’t good for your health. In fact, there are over 2,100 known toxic water contaminants in U.S. drinking water!

For many people, using bottled water is a popular alternative. But there are a lot of health concerns behind plastic water bottles, not to mention the environmental impact.

Why a Refrigerator Water Filter?

Not everyone can afford a whole-house water filter. Or maybe you can, but you’re renting your property and can’t install one. Another popular option is to get a point-of-use filter that fits onto your faucet. But not everyone has the space for a counter-top or even an under sink model either. And then you still have the problem of having to let the cold water run for a while before it’s cold enough to drink, right?

Enter the refrigerator water filter.

Not only will a refrigerator water filter remove the high level of contaminants found in your tap water, making your drinking water and ice cleaner and healthier. It also keeps your water at a chilled, drinkable temperature. Two for one!

Refrigerator water filters aren’t simply replacements for point-of-use filters, of course. Most likely, your fridge uses an in-line water system to source its water from your water mains directly. So even if you do have a faucet filter already, it’s a good idea to supplement it with a refrigerator water filter to ensure all your drinking water and ice is as pure as can be.

What contaminants do Refrigerator Water Filters Remove?

Refrigerator water filters are very efficient at removing contaminants such as pesticides, chemicals (including chlorine), and sediment.

That’s because refrigerator water filters use a stages filtration process.

First, your water passes through a sediment filter to get rid of soil, silt, sand, and other dirt particles. Next, it goes through a copper and zinc mixture to remove chlorine. Finally, your refrigerator water filter uses a carbon filter to remove any other microscopic contaminants.

This not only purifies your water, but also makes sure that it tastes and smells a whole lot better too!

Another great thing about refrigerator water filters is that they don’t strip any minerals from your drinking water. That’s right – instead of spending almost two dollars for a bottle of mineral water, you can spend as much as 500 times less on your tap water. With a refrigerator water filter, it’s 100% possible!

Best Refrigerator Water Filter Reviews

It’s very important that you choose the right type of refrigerator water filter for your needs. This means that it’s good to know what type of contaminants your municipal water contains. To do so, you can use the EWG Tap Water Database to search by zip code.

If you use water from a private well, you should speak to your municipality about having your water quality assessed.

Let’s take a look at the top two refrigerator water filters available!

General Electric MWF Refrigerator Water Filter

Features

The General Electric MWF Refrigerator Water Filter offers a sleek design, allowing you to easily install, handle, and replace the unit. In fact, you won’t have to call in a plumber or expert to help you install it at all!

Another rising concern is the presence of major medicinal drugs in municipal water. While it has not yet been confirmed whether these pose any serious health risks for humans, their effect on aquatic life is nothing to scoff at.

The known pharmaceutical contaminants include a medley of antibiotics, heart medication (including ACE inhibitors, digoxin, and calcium-channel blockers), painkillers, and hormones (including testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone). None of these are properly filtered out by municipal water treatment facilities. Even if the known risk appears to be low at present, it’s better to play safe by getting a filter that is able to remove them from your drinking water!

And that’s one of the major benefits of the General Electric MWF Refrigerator Water Filter. Add to the fact that it fits just about every refrigerator model sold in the past ten years, and you can see why it’s our number one recommendation.

Like all refrigerator water filters, you’ll want to replace the system’s filter once every six months as a general rule. If you tend to go through a lot of drinking water and ice though, you may need to consider replacing the filter more regularly. The General Electric MWF Refrigerator Water Filter is able to efficiently filter about 310 gallons.

Pros

Easy installation

NSF-certified

Compact unit for easy handling

Efficiently remove common water contaminants, including major pharmaceutical drugs

310 gallons filter lifespan (about 6 months)

Cons

No installation instructions included

Limited 30-day warranty

Despite having such a short warranty, the General Electric MWF Refrigerator Water Filter remains our top recommendation. You can also find installation instructions online very easily, such as this YouTube tutorial video.

Maytag UKF8001 Pur Review

Features

If you’re looking for the most affordable refrigerator water filter available without compromising on quality, the Maytag UKF8001 Pur may be the perfect solution for you.

The Maytag UKF8001 Pur is compatible with Maytag and Jenn-Air fridges, which does narrow the scope somewhat. However, its filtration power is comparable to the General Electric MWF Refrigerator Water Filter features at number 1 in our review.

Another awesome feature is the light mechanism, which will remind you when it’s time to replace your filter components. You can expect it to go off after filtering 300 gallons (about six months of use), which is considered the industry standard for refrigerator water filters.

The included installation and handling instructions are incredibly easy to follow. You won’t need to call in a plumber for help with the Maytag UKF8001 Pur!

Pros

Easy installation

NSF-certified

Efficient removal of common contaminants such as lead, asbestos, chlorine, and mercury

Light indicator to remind you when to replace your refrigerator water filter system’s filtration components

Final Words

Having clean, cool drinking water has never been easier that with a refrigerator water filter! The General Electric MWF Refrigerator Water Filter is out number one pick, but if you have a Maytag or Jenn-Air fridge and need a more affordable option, the Maytag UKF8001 Pur is a highly recommended alternative.